# Witt, Seibert & Halsey

Witt, Seibert & Halsey was an American architectural firm based in the twin cities of Texarkana, Arkansas and Texarkana, Texas, with a practice extending into Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. It was founded by architect Sidney Stewart, but achieved prominence under Bayard Witt and Eugene C. Seibert.

## History

Bayard Witt was born in 1880 in Witt's Foundry, Tennessee. He worked as a railroad laborer and foreman before obtaining an apprenticeship in civil engineering. In 1904 he moved to Texarkana, Arkansas, joining the office of architect Sidney Stewart, who had been practicing in Texarkana since at least 1900. By 1907, Witt was a partner in the firm of Stewart & Witt.
Eugene Charles Seibert was born in 1878 in Berea, Ohio. He attended the Case School of Applied Science and Columbia University before entering the office of prominent Fort Worth architects Sanguinet & Staats. In 1908, he moved to Texarkana, joining Stewart & Witt. In 1909, Sidney Stewart chose to return to his native Canada. The firm was then established in 1909 as Witt & Seibert. Fred H. Halsey was added as partner in 1911, the firm becoming Witt, Seibert & Company. Halsey had attended Washington University in St. Louis, and had also worked in Fort Worth. Halsey's name was added to the firm's in 1919.
The partnership was dissolved in 1937, when Seibert left to form his own practice. Witt & Halsey continued briefly, separating in 1940. Witt continued alone until 1944, when he took Robert Reinheimer Jr. as partner in Witt & Reinheimer, which was dissolved upon Witt's death in 1947.
Seibert maintained his independent practice until his death in 1941. He was also mayor of Texarkana, Arkansas from 1934 to 1939. Halsey entered government service after dissolving his partnership with Witt, but later returned to architectural practice. He died in 1978.

## Legacy

After Bayard Witt's passing, Reinheimer continued the practice as Reinheimer & Cox and Reinheimer, Cox & Associates into the 1970s.
The firm is responsible for a number of properties which have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places for their architectural significance.

## Architectural works

| Year | Building | Address | City | State | Firm | Notes |
| 1904 | Texarkana Industrial College | 29th St and Garland Ave | Texarkana | Arkansas | Sidney Stewart | Later the Texarkana Baptist Orphanage. Demolished. |
| 1905 | First Presbyterian Church | 516 Pecan St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Sidney Stewart | |
| 1907 | Little River County Courthouse | 351 N 2nd St | Ashdown | Arkansas | Sidney Stewart | Listed on the NRHP in 1976. |
| 1908 | C. A. Johnston House | 2015 Beech St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Stewart & Witt | A contributing property to the Beech Street Historic District, listed on the NRHP in 2010. |
| 1910 | George W. Bottoms House | 500 Hickory St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt & Seibert in association with C. D. Hill & Company of Dallas | Listed on the NRHP in 1982. |
| 1910 | Dr. Henry A. Longino House | 317 W Main St | Magnolia | Arkansas | Witt & Seibert | Listed on the NRHP in 1982. |
| 1911 | Arkansas High School | Hickory and E 10th Sts | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Demolished. |
| 1911 | Thomas M. Dean House | 1520 Beach St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt & Seibert | Listed on the NRHP in 1976. |
| 1912 | First National Bank Building | 100 Main St | Mount Vernon | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Altered. Presently the Franklin County Library. |
| 1912 | S. S. P. Mills & Son Building | Texarkana Ave and Main St | Wilton | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Listed on the NRHP in 1996, but was removed in 2017 after being demolished in 2016. |
| 1912 | Texarkana National Bank Building | 100 E Broad St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Home to the firm's offices. Now altered. |
| 1913 | Arnold and Greeson Stores | 102-104 W Main St | Prescott | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | A contributing property to the Prescott Commercial Historic District, listed on the NRHP in 2008. |
| 1913 | Dining Hall and Caraway and McCrary Halls | Third District Agricultural School | Magnolia | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Demolished. |
| 1913 | First M. E. Church | Chestnut and 4th Sts | Lewisville | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Listed on the NRHP in 1996. |
| 1913 | Masonic Temple | 314 Main St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Company | |
| 1915 | Dr. G. W. Chisholm House | 930 E 5th St St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Demolished. |
| 1915 | Peoples Bank and Loan Company Building | Spruce and 3rd Sts | Lewisville | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Listed on the NRHP in 1996. |
| 1916 | Eugene C. Seibert House | 1701 Beech St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | A contributing property to the Beech Street Historic District, listed on the NRHP in 2010. |
| 1916 | National Building | 100 E 2nd St | Hope | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | A contributing property to the Hope Historic Commercial District, listed on the NRHP in 1995. |
| 1917 | Emmet M. E. Church | 207 S Walnut St | Emmet | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | |
| 1917 | Leonidas Foster House | 420 N Spruce St | Hope | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Listed on the NRHP in 1991. |
| 1919 | William C. Brown House | 2330 Central Ave | Hot Springs | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 1986. |
| 1923 | Buhrman-Pharr Hardware Company Building | 620 E 3rd St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | A contributing property to the Buhrman–Pharr Hardware Company Historic District, listed on the NRHP in 2004. |
| 1923 | Planters Bank and Trust Company Building | 103 N Main St | Nashville | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | |
| 1923 | Sidney A. Umsted House | 404 Washington St | Camden | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 1995. |
| 1923 | Texarkana National Bank Annex | 100 E Broad St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey in association with Sanguinet, Staats & Hedrick of Fort Worth | Home to the firm's offices. Now altered. |
| 1924 | Caddo Valley Academy | 9th and Main Sts | Norman | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 2002. |
| 1924 | Texarkana City Hall | 220 Texas Blvd | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey in association with C. H. Page & Brother of Austin | |
| 1925 | First M. E. Church | 700 S Broadway St | Smackover | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | A contributing property to the Smackover Historic Commercial District, listed on the NRHP in 1990. Presently the Smackover Library. |
| 1925 | St. John Episcopal Church | 117 Harrison St | Camden | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 2017. |
| 1926 | Saenger Theatre | 211 W 2nd St | Hope | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Demolished. |
| 1927 | Texarkana Junior College | W 16th and Pine Sts | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 2014 as part of the Texarkana Junior College and Texas High School. Demolished 2023 |
| 1927 | Texarkana Municipal Building | 216 Walnut St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 2004. |
| 1928 | Collins Home | 1915 Olive St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | |
| 1928 | Mullins Court | 605 Hickory St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 2007. |
| 1928 | Texarkana Country Club | 1 Country Club Ln | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | |
| 1929 | Sevier County Courthouse | 115 N 3rd St | De Queen | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | |
| 1929 | Texas High School | 1915 Pine St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 2014 as part of the Texarkana Junior College and Texas High School Demolished 2023. |
| 1930 | Jamison Building | 513-515 W 3rd St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | |
| 1931 | Central Christian Church | 903 Walnut St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | |
| 1931 | Pike County Courthouse | 1 Courthouse Sq | Murfreesboro | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 1986. |
| 1932 | U. S. Post Office and Courthouse | 500 N State Line Ave | Texarkana | Arkansas and Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey in association with Perkins, Chatten & Hammond of Chicago | Listed on the NRHP in 2000. |
| 1933 | Trinity M. E. Church | 300 N Vienna St | Ruston | Louisiana | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Demolished. |
| 1938 | Cass County Office Building | 119 N Kauffman St | Linden | Texas | Witt & Halsey | |
| 1939 | Miller County Courthouse | 400 Laurel St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Eugene C. Seibert | Listed on the NRHP in 1998. |
| 1940 | Stevens Courts | 2220 W 15th St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt & Halsey in association with James N. McCammon of Dallas | All demolished except for administration building. |